12 weeks

Dear Penelope,

You're staring at me from your bouncy chair as I write this and every time I look at you I can't believe how much you've grown. This week you turned 12 weeks old. Twelve whole weeks you've been in this world and you're already such a pro. It breaks my heart sometimes to see you getting so big already. At your last doctor's appointment you had grown 5 inches and gained almost 5 lbs since you were born. You've outgrown all of your newborn clothes and are filling out those munchable cheeks wonderfully.




You've started to talk - a delightful cooing that makes Dad and me come running whenever we hear it. First thing in the mornings you love to tell me all about your night. Sometimes you're so busy talking that you don't want to eat until you've told me everything. Daddy's teaching you to say I love you and you're getting really good at it. You've got all the pauses down and it comes out Ah gaah oooo. We've tried getting pictures of you doing this and even tried video taping it but you become enamored with the camera the second you see it and all communications cease. You've also started smiling on your own. It is truly one of the sweetest things I've ever seen. You and I spend most of the day just smiling at each other.





We have a morning routine and you can hardly wait once you hear the music for The Price is Right knowing that it's time to come on down! We watch that every morning during breakfast and you love it. I've starting reading books to you and you listen quietly until I ask you a question about the story. Most every word comes out goo but we figure that just means you're smart. What's a cow say? Goo. What does the ghost say? Goo. What letter does Grover start with? Goo. You're so smart I'm convinced you'll find a cure for cancer or a way to get Firefly back on television.





We think you're going through a growth spurt right now because our normally very sweet and calm child disappears and becomes a wiggly, cranky wiggly monkey wiggling. Did I mention you get wiggly? Really wiggly. You wiggle so much you have thrown yourself out of my arms a time or two. And it probably doesn't help matters that you might have begun teething. Not only are you uber-wiggly, you're also slobbery. SO slobbery. Your hands are constantly wet to the elbows and I have to remember to mop up your face on a regular basis or your cheeks get red. I swear you must be some kind of super bionic baby because who's ever heard of a three month old getting teeth? But teeth or no, there's no doubt in my mind that you're special. And oh so smart. Sometimes there's only one thing that will make you calm down once you're screaming and, oddly enough, it's me singing to you. You love Dolly Parton, The Monkees and anything sung by a Muppet. Your special favorite right now is Rainbow Connection. Half a verse into that and you're staring at me like I'm Kermit himself.





Daddy blessed you in Sacrament Meeting on January 3, 2010. He did a wonderful job and Grandma and Grandpa Turley were here from Phoenix. They spoiled you rotten. You just loved all the extra attention they gave you and showed off how awesome you are at every turn. Grandma was even threatening to take you back home with her. I reminded her that she had to work every day and that I'd just take care of you for now - at least until she retired.




Your looks have changed from that of a newborn to an infant. Your belly and cheeks are nicely rounded and your hair is getting longer every day. Most days it looks gingery and I really hope it stays that way. I'd love for you to be a redhead. But one thing about your looks is for sure - you look like your Daddy. The consensus seems to be you look like Jason in a dress. Some times it's almost scary. A tilt of your head or a face that screams Yes you're his and not the milkman's. It's amazing to see him in you.




Love, Mama

never ever

Growing up I used to babysit a lot. And I mean A LOT. I had at least 7 kids who knew that if they saw me at the door they were in for a fun night without the parents. I was the cool sitter - laid back, easy going and the only rules I strictly enforced had to do with safety. No running with sharp objects. No jumping off the couch onto your little sister's head. No sticking forks in the outlets. You know, the basics. I knew that when I became a parent I wanted to have the same devil may care attitude. And yet, I knew there were going to be some rules I'd follow without question. Rule #1 would be Remain Adaptable. Babies don't have schedules. You can't always be punctual when dealing with an infant. So Rule #1 is the most important. Rule #3 is Never Wake a Sleeping Baby. Unless there's a house fire or natural disaster, I don't see any reason to wake a baby who is already asleep. Madness I tell you! Just enjoy the time they're asleep because it won't last. Rule #2, in my mind, is almost as important as Rule #1. So much so that it might as well be called Rule #1.1. It's the one I have the most prejudice about when I see other parents breaking it. I think mean and hateful thoughts in the general direction of these rule-breaking so-called parents. I have even been known to express this opinion loudly to said parents.

And Friday I broke Rule #2. Yes, I took a baby to the movies.

In the past I have been in many, many movies where a child of any age does not belong and yet some oblivious parent decided to save a few bucks on a sitter and take them to the theater anyway. Oh the madness! There's crying and whining and questions on end. And that's just on my part. I swore that I would never EVER take my child to the movies until they were old enough to watch it. Instead, at 11 weeks old, Penny saw her first movie - Avatar. Yes, now you may understand why I did it. The story line was so-so but the cinematography was stunning. Especially in IMAX 3D.

And my child made a fool out of me. I was prepared beforehand to spend the three hours sitting in the lobby while Jason finished the movie. I was willing and ready to do so if necessary. Half way through I realized this was definitely our child. She's already a movie buff. She sat on my lap, watching the screen for about 2 hours. The rest of the time she slept. She only fussed when I was stupid enough to try and shift her and she couldn't see the screen. So there we sat, her entranced, me eating Red Vines, while we walked through a virtual outer space forest. She was so good I would even consider taking her again.

I guess I should have just remembered Rule #1. All that's left to say is some kind of stupid cliche about rules and breaking...

3 things for the new year

Resolutions have never been my strong suit. Every year I vow I will be thin and feather-light by summer vacation and every year I end up digging though my old t-shirts for one to wear over a swimsuit. So this year I decided to me more realistic with my goals.

1) I want to be more patient. As a general rule, I am not a patient person. Becoming a mom has opened up this wealth of understanding and patience that I honestly didn't know I possessed. Penny is a dream child but she still has her trying moments. Like when she threw up all over me tonight after she'd finished her feeding. And I mean ALL over me. And the couch. And herself. I've learned that all you can do at that point is to laugh. Oh, and a bath helps too. But I recognize that this is my baby. No matter what she does I am enamored of her. Instead I need to extend my patience to the rest of the world around me. That way the next time someone is quickly devouring what's left of my very short fuse, I can laugh. And maybe suggest they take a bath.

2) I want to be healthier. A few years back I had a very dear friend agree to be my personal trainer. After six months I was in the best shape of my life. It wasn't just that I had lost 30 lbs. It was that I had confidence in myself and the way I looked. I could bench press 70 lbs and didn't think twice about having dessert. I want that back.

3) I want to be more open. I want to embrace new experiences and not be afraid to try something -worried that the outcome will be different than I expect. I don't want the fear of the unknown to rule my life. I want to stare into the whirling eyes of Change and not blink. If I can do that then maybe I'll be able to see the wonderful opportunities that are out there, waiting.